Avid4 Adventure Journal

Overnight or sleepaway summer camp can help immerse kids in the outdoors in ways that might not be possible otherwise. Resident Overnight Camp Director at Avid4 Adventure, Eric Rightor, shares with Mile High Mamas', Amber Johnson just how and why overnight summer camp benefits all kids. 

Whether this is your child’s first or tenth time going to summer camp, initial thoughts about spending a time with new people, trying new activities in a new environment can feel intimidating. However, you as a parent or guardian can get them pumped up to jump into a new adventure through support, preparation, and insight. Here are ways to get your kids excited about going to summer camp:

The summer has started and you would love to see your child get outside this season and push their boundaries. Yet, you also know that your child has struggled with being adventurous in the past. Maybe you've looked at websites and photos of kids rock climbing or mountain biking have you thinking your child needs to be an experienced athlete to participate. What to do? If you were wondering whether outdoor adventure day camp is right for your unadventurous kid, the short answer is yes! Read on to learn more about how adventure camp can help your child tap into their adventurous spirit.

I walked into my college’s semi-annual job fair looking for just that—a summer job. Instead, I walked out with an overwhelming sense of joy, a feeling of community, a new family. Avid4 Adventure, I learned, was not only a great company, but had core values which I believed in, values I knew I’d be proud and capable to teach and pass on. The two staff members working the job fair table were so sincere at explaining those values and the positive work environment that had grown from the company’s staff culture that I knew I was where I belonged.

As a camp director for the past 10 years, you can imagine how many times I’ve been asked "Is my child ready for overnight camp?" by prospective families thinking of sending their most prized possession away to an overnight summer camp. You are sold on the skill and personal development, making lifelong memories with soon-to-be lifelong friends, all while having a blast in the outdoors—but is your child really ready for sleepaway camp? This is a tough question to answer and it leads to a tougher one, which ultimately leads to the hardest one of all.